Elevated Floor Supports

ABSTRACT

Improvements in elevated floor supports, said support ( 1 ) comprising, in its first embodiment option ( 1   a ), by an inverted ‘U’ section ( 2 ), upper and longitudinally fitted with a bar ( 3 ), which delimits two horizontal support surfaces ( 4 ) for the plates (P) of the false floor, and where there are provided means for fixing ( 5 ) the support ( 1 ) directly into the sub floor, being that in the vertical walls ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) there are provided openings ( 7 ) which delimit ‘channels’ for the passage of piping, cables and wiring (F) of any kind; in a second embodiment option ( 1   b ), said support ( 1 ) is comprised of a section ( 8 ) in an inverted ‘T’, fitted below with means ( 9 ) of support, sustentation and anchorage, as well as fitted with extension sets ( 10 ) for increasing and adjusting of its height.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current Invention patent refers to improvements in the supports employed in the system for assembly and fixing of elevated floors, which simplify and optimize their installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known to the state of the art, the elevated floor system is widely is employed in spaces which requires the passage of electrical, telephone, logic cables, plumbing, air conditioning ducts, etc, and which should have easy and quick access, both for their maintenance, and also for any required changes in the “layout” of that space.

The known elevated floors are composed of a metallic structure mounted directly on the floor or lowered sub floor of the building, over which are set out removable panels or plates made of wood or another suitable resistant material, on top of which is later placed the desired floor finishing, and said structure is composed of a multitude of pieces that constitute the support itself for the false floor.

Thus, the known elevated floors mostly use supports composed of pedestals or vertical pins fitted with feet at their lower ends for fixing to the ground, and the platform at their upper ends where the panels or plates that comprise the floor are fixed directly, each of which fitted with means for adjusting the height.

Other known elevated floors use beams or sections fixed to the aforesaid vertical pins, and over which the edges of the panels or plates are supported.

There is also known elevated floors that use as a support beams or sections that are supported or are fixed directly to the ground or sub floor.

The document DE 38217422 shows a support configured by an angular metallic section, fitted with a L-head on which the floor plates lean on. However, as this section presents only one side tab for supporting the plates, in order to get another side tab there are provided separate models with additional “clips”, to be fixed by slotting into the vertical branch of the main section, resulting in an excessive number of pieces, and convoluted assembly.

The document DE 19733647 shows a support configured by a metallic section formed by folds of a metallic sheet that forms an upper central branch, two side branches on which the floor plates rest, and two vertical and parallel feet with their inner-folded ends, making lugs for fixing at the far ends of the supporting feet.

The disadvantages seen in this support consist of the fact that the final configuration of the section depends on mechanical bending stages, of high operational cost, and on the fact that the section should be fixed to feet or columns to remain spaced from the ground, resulting in a greater number of pieces, which also increases the final price of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this Invention is a elevated floor support fully structured and manufactured from suitable plastic material through the injection molding process, which support presents total constructive and operational simplicity, resulting, therefore, in a very low cost product.

This new innovative support, in its first embodiment option, is comprised of an inverted “U” section, upper and longitudinally fitted with a central vertical bar, or “crest”, that delimits two horizontal side support and gluing tabs for the side edges of the floor plates in general (tiles, floor plates of any kind such as wood, aluminum, plastic, iron, shellacs, marble, etc.). The gluing of these plates can also be done only at the base of the four points, resulting in substantial saving in the glue applied.

This support can be fixed directly to the sub floor by means of screws and bushes which go through small vertical cup shaped tubes a with a drilled bottom, which stick out from the lower side of the said side tabs.

Additionally, the side and vertical walls of the “U” section of the current support are fitted with a multitude of aligned empty stretches, that comprise spaces for the passage of cables, wires, piping, etc., that will be built-in under the false floor; the said empty stretches can be revealed in various formats, so that, in the preferred embodiment, these can be in the format of an arc.

Such revolutionary constructive simplicity of the support herein perfected results in innumerable advantages such as versatility and economy, whether in its manufacture, or in its use. This is because said section can be manufactured in standard sized bars, rationalizing the manufacturing process, the product inventory, and its use in the work, as the section is cut to the desired length at the work area itself, without leftovers, and with the full utilization of the parts.

Another important advantage of this new support consists of the fact that it can be employed for the installation, in the same false floor, of square and/or rectangular plates, tiles, etc., of any length, width or height measurements.

The same support can also be applied for supporting skirting boards and door stones, since that in such cases, it is enough that they are positioned at distances corresponding to the length and width of the floor piece in question.

For installation of the skirting boards, it is sufficient to place the section parallel to and next to the wall, so that the said skirting board is fitted between this and the crest of the section (see FIG. 13).

Additionally, the central rule, or crest, provided for in the current support also configures an auxiliary element for the fitting and finishing between the plates and/or tiles that form the floor itself, so that, in case where it is necessary to apply grouting, the used amount of this product is substantially less.

In a simplified variation of this first embodiment option for using the current support, it can be shown without the central or crest bar, configuring, thus, an auxiliary support for the sustentation of large sized plates or tiles, and/or thinner plates or tiles, thus eliminating the possibility of chinks or cracks thereof (see FIG. 9).

In the second embodiment option for this new support, said support is presented as an inverted “T” section, which vertical branch constitutes the same central bar, or “crest”, and the sustentation of this new section is made by cup shaped vertical tubes, with a central hole in the base, for fixing or anchoring to the sub floor, and that now, therefore, has also the purpose of very high impact sustentation.

As with the first embodiment option, this crest divides the support into two tabs of equal widths, and serves as a division between the finished floor plates, and as they have a lower height, form a gap for application of the grouting to these pieces.

Said crest also serves as the frame for the various formats of finished floors, whether rectangular, square, lozenge shaped, trapezoids, and or in parallelograms, and each side sector of the section with its cup-shaped pipes with a central hole in the base anchored to the sub floor, serve as sustentation for very high impact weight.

And in a simplified variation of this second embodiment option of this support, said section is presented without the crest, and constituting extra reinforcement for delicate floors (with large sizes and thinner), and breakable. Furthermore, the support without a crest, leaned to and anchored to the vertical plane of the wall, serves as sustentation for the gluing of skirting boards to the walls, supported at their base by a skirting piece and/or a piece of the finished floor (FIG. 19).

Additionally, with the objective of making this support even more versatile in all its embodiment options and versions, and thus extend the possibilities for the installation of elevated floors, as shown in FIG. 20, it can be raised to a height of up to 1.20 m, through the use of plastic “tick wall” extension sets, which in their first version are comprised of vertical pipes and cup shaped fixing bushes with a central hole in the base, within which are fitted, inside or outside (FIGS. 21 and 22), the lower ends of the vertical pipes, which, in turn receive the fitting, at their upper ends, of the cup shaped support pipes.

In a second version of the extension sets (FIGS. 23 and 24), the vertical pipe is shown provided with an externally threaded lower stretch, while the anchorage bush is tubular, lower and externally flanged, and provided with an internal thread, into which the lower end of the said pipe is attached.

To lock the thread between these two pieces at the desired height, allowing altering the height of the floor, a nut is provided, similarly threaded in the reinforced pipe. The fixing of this anchorage bush is done by gluing it directly to the floor.

In summary, these are the savings and simplicities resulting from the support for the false floor, object of the current Invention:

a) a piece in injection or vacuum molded plastic, which due to its constructive conception, use little raw material and has high pressure and impact strength;

b) minimum application of screws with bushes for anchorage to the sub floor;

c) crest on the body of the piece that allows framing the shape of the finished floor with frames of any format, squares, rectangles, trapezoids, lozenge shapes or even parallelograms;

d) the crest allows perfect equidistance between the finished floor plates, favoring regularity and savings in the application of the grouting;

e) the inverted “T” shaped support has in its two tabs cup shaped pipes a with central holes in their bases; these cup shaped pipes, due to their alternating layout in the inverted “T” tabs, support heavy weight loads; the holes serve as passage and anchorage lead to the piece to the sub floor using screws and plastic bushes;

f) gluing only at the four points of the tiles of the finished floor;

g) total elimination of putty etc for laying;

h) rational speeding up of the labor in fixing the finished floor pieces;

i) rational speeding in the fitting and anchoring of the bars;

j) speed and safety in the locking between plates;

k) pressure from the floor plates is exercised only on the tabs and cup shaped support pipes;

l) low consumption of grouting which can be silicon, cement, glue, etc.;

m) low design, installation and labor times;

n) full use of the pieces of the product in the work site itself (leftovers, cuts etc.);

o) rationalization of inventory;

p) common thick walled plastic pipes can encapsulate the cup shaped pipe, allowing heights of up to 1.20 m;

q) the pipes mentioned for heights exceeding that of said pipe should be seated with a bush anchored with screws to the sub floor, or by gluing; the layout of the bush anchoring follows the alignment of the cup shaped pipes of said support;

r) fixing by screwing between the vertical pipe and the anchoring bush allows millimetric adjustment of the height of the extension set, and consequently, the perfect adjustment of the floor level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, the new support in its first embodiment option.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of it, according to line A-A shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 3 is another cross section view of said support, according to line B-B shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an upper and schematic view of a false floor mounted with the said support, for smaller sized plates and/or tiles.

FIG. 5 is a schematic and partially exploded perspective of the detail shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 6 is an upper and schematic view of a false floor mounted with the said support, for narrow but very long plates.

FIG. 7 is a schematic and partially exploded perspective of the detail shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 8 is an upper and schematic view of a false floor where a simplified variation of this first embodiment option was also used, and that configures an auxiliary support for large sized plates.

FIG. 9 is a schematic and partially exploded perspective of the detail shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 10 is an upper view of the support structure of the false floor composed of the new support in its principal version.

FIG. 11 is a cross section view of the set shown in the previous figure, according to line C-C shown in it, showing the passage of the wiring under and through the support, object of the current Invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross section view of the set according to line D-D shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a partial view and cross section of a mounted false floor, and provided with a skirting board.

FIG. 14 shows, in perspective, the new support used in its second embodiment option.

FIG. 15 is a cross section view of said support, according to line E-E shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 16 is another cross section view of it, according to line F-F shown in FIG. 14.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the section in the side and upper views, respectively.

FIG. 19 shows, in a transversal cut, a simplified variation of this second embodiment option for the present support, namely without the crest, and in one of the possibilities for its use, i.e., leaned to and anchored to the vertical plane of the wall, serving as sustentation for gluing the skirting boards to the walls, resting at their base on a piece of skirting and/or a piece of finished floor, as well as sustentation of the floor.

FIG. 20 is a schematic and cross section view of the new support, in its second embodiment option, which is elevated through the provision of extension sets, in its first version, showing as an optional fitting form, the vertical pipe with its base fitted inside the anchorage bush.

FIG. 21 is a magnified view of the detail A shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 22 shows, as another fitting option, the base of the vertical pipe fitted externally to the anchorage bush.

FIG. 23 shows, in a lower and exploded perspective, the second version of the extension set.

FIG. 24 is a side and cross section view of the assembly illustrated in the previous figure, and in the assembled position, that is, in use.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of this Invention patent refers to “IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATED FLOOR SUPPORTS”, such support (1) manufactured in suitable plastic material and by the usual injection molding process, and which, in its first embodiment option (1 a) (FIGS. 1 a 13), is presented comprised of a section (2) in an inverted “U”, upper and longitudinally fitted with a bar (3) vertical and central, of a section preferably trapezoidal, with the smaller base turned up, and which delimits two horizontal support surfaces (4) for the side edges of the false floor plates (P).

In the horizontal surfaces (4) there are provided means for fixing (5) the support (1) directly to the sub floor, which are configured by vertical and lower cup shaped pipes, with a base holed in its center, through which fixing screws (p) pass and are threaded directly to the ground.

In the vertical walls (6) of the section (2) of the support (1) there are provided innumerable openings (7) aligned up, which delimit “channels” for the passage of cables and wiring (F) of any kind, as well as piping of any kind.

In a simplified variation (1 aa) of the first embodiment option (1 a) of the support (1) (FIGS. 8 and 9), this is shown without the upper bar (3), configuring an auxiliary support for sustentation of the false floor.

In a second embodiment option (1 b) of the new support (1) (FIGS. 14 to 20), this is shown comprised of a section (8) in the format of an inverted “T”, which upper branch comprises the same central bar (3) or crest, which equally delimits two horizontal support surfaces (4) for the side edges of the plates (P) of the false floor, and below, a section (8) in a “T” is fitted with means (9) for support, sustentation and anchorage, comprised of the vertical cup shaped pipes (5) for fixing.

In a simplified variation (1 bb) of this second embodiment option (1 b) of support (1), this is shown without the crest (3) (see FIG. 19).

Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 24, for the lifting of the support (1) to greater heights, that is, up to 1.20 m, there are provided extension sets (10), which in the first version (FIGS. 20 to 22), are comprised by vertical “thick walled” plastic pipes (11) and cup shaped anchorage bushes (12), into which are fit, within or without, the lower ends, or base, of the vertical pipes (11), which, in turn, receive the fitting, at their upper ends, of the cup shaped (1) support pipes (5, 9).

In a second version of the extension sets (10) (FIGS. 23 and 24), the vertical pipe (11) presents its lower stretch provided with an external thread (13), while the anchorage bush (12) is shown tubular, lower and flanged externally (14), and provided with an internal thread (15), into which screws the threaded stretch (13) of the pipe (11); there is also provided a locking nut (16), threaded in the stretch (13) of the pipe (10), responsible for locking the positioning between it and the bush (12) at the desired height. This threading allows precise adjustment of the level and the leveling of the floor.

Fixing of the anchorage bush (12) to the floor is done by gluing at its flanged base (14), which facilitates and reducers the fixing process. 

1. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports wherein the support (1), manufactured in a suitable plastic material by an injection molding process, in its first embodiment option (1 a), comprised by a section (2) in an inverted “U”, upper and longitudinally fitted with a vertical and central bar (3), which delimits two horizontal support surfaces (4) for the side edges of the plates (P) of the false floor, being that at the said horizontal surfaces (4) there are provided means of fixing (5) the support (1) directly to the sub floor, while on the vertical walls (6) of the support (1) are provided innumerable openings (7) aligned to each other, which delimit the “channels” for the passage of cables and wiring F) of any kind, as well as piping of any kind.
 2. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means (5) of the support (1 a) directly to the sub floor comprises vertical and lower pipes through which screws pass and are threaded (p).
 3. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claim 1, wherein the openings (7) provided in the vertical walls (6) of the support (1 a) are shown in any suitable format.
 4. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claims 1 and 3, wherein the openings (7) provided in the vertical walls (6) of the support (1 a) are presented in the shape of an arc.
 5. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claim 1, wherein in a simplified variation (1 aa) of the first embodiment option (1 a) of the support (1), is shown without an upper bar (3), configuring auxiliary support for sustentation of a false floor.
 6. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claim 1, wherein the support (1), in a second embodiment option (1 b), is shown comprising a section (8) in the shape of an inverted “T”, which upper vertical branch comprises a central bar (3) or crest, which delimits two horizontal surfaces (4) supporting the side edges of the plates (P) of the false floor, being that below, the support (lb) is fitted with the means (9) of support, sustentation and anchorage.
 7. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claims 1, wherein the means (9) of support, sustentation and anchorage of the section (8) of the support (1 b) comprises the vertical fixing pipes (5).
 8. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claims 1, wherein, in a simplified variation (1 bb) of the second embodiment option (1 b) of the support (1), this is shown without the bar (3).
 9. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claims 1, wherein the vertical bar (3), or crest, is shown in a section that is preferably trapezoidal, with the smaller base aimed above.
 10. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claims 1, wherein are provided extension sets (10) for increasing the desired height of the support (1) of the floor, and consequently of the lower passage area.
 11. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claims 1, wherein, in a first version, the extension sets (10) are comprised of a tubular piece (11) and anchoring bush (12) in the shape of a cup, into which fits, within or without, the lower end, or base, of the tube (11), which upper end receives the fitting from the corresponding pipe (5, 9) of the support (1).
 12. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claim 1, wherein, in a second version of the extension sets (10), the vertical pipe (11) has a lower stretch provided with an external thread (13), while the anchorage bush (12) is tubular, lower and externally flanged (14), and provided with an internal thread (15), into which screws the threaded stretch (13) of the tube (11), being provided with a locking nut (16), threaded in the stretch (13) of the tube (10), responsible for locking of the positioning between this and the bush (12) at the desired height.
 13. Improvements In Elevated Floor Supports, according to claim 1, wherein the anchorage bush (12) being fixed directly to the floor by gluing its flanged base (14). 